The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has granted approval for an increase in the electricity tariff by Rs1.52 per unit for consumers of K-Electric.
In accordance with the directive from the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) in June 2023, NEPRA has issued a notification officially declaring a rise of Rs1.52 per unit in electricity charges, according to a press release.
These adjustments will be reflected in the monthly electricity bills spanning from December 2023 to November 2024.
A spokesperson for K-Electric clarified that NEPRA’s notification aligns with a previous ECC decision related to charges from the preceding tenure.
In a statement, the spokesperson mentioned, “The prolonged duration in finalising KE’s tariff has contributed to the current circumstances, resulting in lower charges from Karachi compared to other regions in the country. Operating within the regulated framework of Pakistan’s power sector, KE, like other DISCOS, adheres to decisions made by the government of Pakistan and NEPRA concerning power tariffs.”
It is noteworthy that lifeline consumers are exempted from the recent increase in charges, providing relief to this specific consumer group, the statement added.
In a previous development this month, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) made a decision regarding the uniform quarterly tariff adjustments for K-Electric consumers, approving a hike of Rs1.72 per unit.
The decision entails that the tariff rationalization guidelines previously issued to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) shall be applicable to the consumption of July, August, and September 2023, to be recovered from K-Electric consumers in December 2023, January 2024, and February 2024, respectively.
Subsequent to this decision, the electricity tariff for K-Electric consumers will experience an increase of Rs1.72 per unit.
Sources indicate that there will be a hike of Rs1.25 per unit in terms of quarterly adjustment from January to March 2023, while Rs0.47 per unit will be increased in terms of quarterly adjustment from October to December 2023.
These measures are taken to ensure uniform electricity tariffs across the country, as per sources familiar with the matter.